Afternoon Tea

Although Mia had learned to become an Animagus, she had no intention of reporting it. It was one of her trump cards, and Harry, Hermione, and Ron were quite willing to help her keep it secret.

The day after the rain was sunny, and the rain-soaked lawn gave off the fresh scent of grass and soil. It was perfect for a nap.

Mia had arranged to have afternoon tea on the lawn with Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Daphne, and Astoria. She first took her own Luna to the kitchen, where the house-elves packed up plenty of treats for them, then headed to the meeting place.

Hermione, Ginny, and Luna were already waiting there. They spread out a blanket, laid out the food, and let their little pets go off and play. Daphne and Astoria arrived late, and as soon as they did, Daphne clung to Mia.

"You're nowhere to be found every day," Daphne said reproachfully.

"Oh, I've been busy, haven't I? Let me introduce everyone. This is Daphne and Astoria, and this is Ginny, Luna, and Hermione." Mia pushed Daphne away and pulled her over to make the introductions first.

Astoria was a gentle girl. Unlike the Pure-blood families of the wizarding world, who discriminated against Muggles, she saw everyone as equal. She quickly hit it off with Hermione and the others.

When girls got together, they always talked about makeup, fashion, and relationships. Those topics easily brought them closer.

"Those boys are so annoying. Every one of them thinks he's so handsome," Daphne said disdainfully, talking about her admirers and the boys around her.

"Then what kind of person do you all like?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Someone outstanding, interesting, and handsome." Daphne had very high standards for a partner.

"For me, he has to be clever, respect women, and treat me well." This was the first time Hermione had considered the question, but after what had happened with Draco, she understood what most people in the wizarding world were like. Someone who discriminated based on blood status was absolutely out of the question.

"What about you, Ria?" Daphne looked at her sister curiously.

Astoria blushed. "I don't know, but he has to be a really good person."

"What kind of person does Luna like?"

"Someone witty and funny? Someone who can read The Quibbler with me?" Luna thought that person would have to understand her.

"What about Ginny?"

"Ginny likes someone like Harry, right?"

Everyone there knew that Ginny's favorites were the Potter siblings.

Ginny huffed twice. "No, I don't. I like someone like Mia: powerful and knowledgeable, calm and clever. What kind of person do you like, Mia? You can take your pick of my brothers!" Ginny still wanted to make Mia her sister-in-law.

At that, everyone looked over curiously. Draco was obviously interested in Mia, and the Weasley Twins had intentions of their own. Even Cedric seemed somewhat interested in her, and people at school were all secretly placing bets on them.

Daphne was even more curious. Draco had been in a terrible mood lately because of his cold war with Mia.

Mia looked at the pairs of eyes staring at her, eager for answers. Feeling a little helpless, she leaned back on her hands to put some distance between them.

"Come on, tell us! We're super curious!"

"Yeah, yeah! With so many boys, which one do you like?"

"Is it the proud young master or the handsome Mr. Nice Guy?"

"Or the mischievous, witty, and funny twins?"

"I think Wood's pretty good too. Sure, all he thinks about is Quidditch, but that face is seriously handsome! And his body goes without saying!"

"Uh, can I choose none of them?" To be honest, Mia really didn't have time to think about this before defeating Voldemort, and she didn't have time for a relationship either. Even after defeating Voldemort, she still had to find a way to research the magic of crossing over and save her parents.

"No! What kind of person do you like?"

"Then, someone handsome, tall, smart, and powerful?"

"That's so vague. It feels like no one fits except Cedric." Put that way, it felt like no one was suitable for Mia.

"Thank you?" A gentle voice sounded behind them.

"!" The girls turned their heads stiffly and saw the very people they had been discussing right behind them.

A group of boys stood behind Cedric, teasing him suggestively and making eyes at him. On the other side, Harry wore a dark expression, followed by the grinning twins and Wood, whose ears were a little red. Another group consisted of Draco, who was scowling and looked unfriendly, the impassive Theodore, and Blaise and Pansy, who were enjoying the show.

"Oh-ho."

Harry: Why are they all after my sister? Don't you have sisters of your own?

Cedric had come out to enjoy the sun with his friends. When he saw Mia, he had wanted to come say hello, but he hadn't expected to hear that conversation. His ears quietly turned a little red.

Harry and the others were wearing their Quidditch uniforms. It looked like they had just finished practice and were heading back to the castle.

Draco had come looking for Mia solely because he had learned that Daphne was with her.

"What a coincidence. What are you all doing here?" Seeing the somewhat tense scene, Mia was the first to speak, directing her question at Cedric.

"I came to relax, and when I saw you, I thought I'd say hello." Cedric smiled and handed Mia the candy he was holding. It was a new product from Hogsmeade.

"Thank you." Mia ignored the burning gazes behind her and accepted it without a change in expression.

Hermione and the others: Impressive!

"Mia! I happen to be free, so I'll stay here with you." Harry's sense of crisis was through the roof. He hurried forward and took his sister's arm, eyeing the ill-intentioned group warily.

"Merlin's underpants, that's a scary sight." Ron had appeared from somewhere at some point. He picked up one of the snacks Mia and the others had prepared and commented as he ate.

"We happen to be free too. Perhaps Miss Little Snake would welcome us as well?" George and Fred grinned as they moved up beside Mia and tried to put their arms around her, only for Harry to swat them away.

"Of course Mia is staying with us Slytherins!" Draco shot back, unwilling to be outdone.

"If I remember right, didn't you make Mia angry? You're out of the running right now, you know~" George said, happy to stir up trouble.

"Mia, I've finished writing the improved Potions formula you wanted. Do you want to try it?" Theodore approached Mia without a sound.

"Sure. Once we're finished here." Mia's eyes lit up, and she agreed at once.

Blaise: He gets things done without making a sound!

In the end, with Harry looking grim and Draco shamelessly staying put, the whole group sat around Mia and finished the snacks.

As Harry pulled Mia away, he didn't forget to glare at the whole group.